2011-098 DEAPR - Alois Callemyn Survey Sykes Farm Conservation Easement $9,375

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 3, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT• Resolution of Approval - Conservation Easement for the Sykes Dairy Farm DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution of Approval David Stancil, 245-2510 Location Map Rich Shaw, 245-2514 Site Map Brent Bague, 245-2751 Draft Conservation Easement PURPOSE: To consider a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by Orange County of an agricultural conservation easement for the Sykes family dairy. BACKGROUND: The acquisition of agricultural conservation easements to protect prime farmland in Orange County is a longstanding goal of the Board of Commissioners, and is a priority of the Lands Legacy Program. Since completing the County's first agricultural conservation easement in 2001, Orange County has protected 1,563 acres of prime farmland and riparian buffers with conservation easements. In April 2009, Orange County, in cooperation with the Orange NRCS/Soil and Water Conservation District Office, applied for matching grant funds from the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP). A portion of those grant funds will be used to purchase a conservation easement to protect approximately 160 acres of the Sykes farm. The Sykes farm is located north of Bradshaw Quarry Road in southwestern Orange County (Bingham Township). It is one of just eight dairies in the county. The farm is operated by Jeff Sykes, who along with his late brother John, took over the dairy from their father Vernon Sykes. Today the family owns the farm as the Sykes Family Limited Partnership. The farm is located in the Cane Creek Protected Watershed, which the County identified as a priority watershed for acquiring agricultural easements in a dual effort to protect prime farmland and drinking water quality. Turkey Hill Creek flows through the farm and drains to Cane Creek Reservoir - a principal source of drinking water for Carrboro and Chapel Hill. The Sykes family intends to grant a conservation easement on 160 acres of their 300-acre farm, including the main dairy operation (accessed from Oak Grove Church Road), cropland, and extensive pastures. About 90% of the 160 acres is in active agricultural production. The proposed conservation easement area is depicted on the attached site map.